We’re Open – but should we be more open?
By Dr Phil Newton, Research Dean
The University wants to open up all elements of research at Reading.
But open research is controversial, and there are many different views on it. To some, open research is the future and leads to better studies, more collaboration, and greater impact. To others, it risks giving away your best ideas without clear benefits.
That’s why we need your views now on Reading’s draft Vision for Open Research. You can have your say by completing a short online survey.
Find out more about our consultation or complete the survey now.
What is Open Research?
It is about using modern technologies to make the materials and outputs of research discoverable, accessible, transparent, and re-usable. Open practices include Open Access publishing of research findings, sharing of data and software code used to generate results, and use of online tools such as open notebooks and study pre-registration platforms to make the research process more inclusive and transparent. It’s not just about open science: researchers in the arts and humanities can publish Open Access monographs as well as articles, and can enhance access to their research by means of digital technologies.
Why has the University developed this statement?
We believe Open Research is better research – better for you and for the beneficiaries of your research. We want to create a shared vision in dialogue with our research community that will guide us as we develop policies and services to make Open Research work for you. We want to find out how the University can best support you.
Who should reply to the consultation?
We would like to hear from anyone in the University, in any discipline, who is active in research: academic staff, early career researchers, research students. You don’t need to be knowledgeable about Open Research or have experience of using open practices: we are looking for a wide range of views.
Please take a few minutes to tell us your thoughts, and encourage your colleagues and research students to participate. The consultation will remain open until 5 pm on Friday 20th April.
For more information and to take part in the consultation, please go to http://www.reading.ac.uk/research/open-research/open-research-message.aspx.